Improvement in processes and apparatus for the manufacture of spelter



' MWD JUL 41aml UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JOHN E. BURB()\VS, OF NEYARK, NEWr JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FR THE NIANUFACTURE F SPELTER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,551, dated July 4, 1371.

To all zoll/om it muy concern.:

Be it known that j., Jol-1N E. Bennows, of Newark, in the county of Essex, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for the lwl'aiuifacture of Spelter or Metallic Zine; and I do hereby declare that the following' is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wing.

The object of my invention is to produce metallic zinc direct from the ores of zinc without iirst reducing to oxides, as is now the usual practice, and also to produce metallic zine in a more economical manner than has heretofore been accomplished. The nature of my invention consists in mixing the previously broken or granulated ores of zinc with any carbonaceous material and placing them in a suitable retort, having a condenser placed on the top of retort to receive the vapors of zinc formed, and then subjecting said vapors to the requisite temperature to form melted zinc, and to completely separate the zinc from other metals and impurities.

I have found that when the ores of zinc, such as carbonates, sulphurets, and silicates, Sie., are granulated ai 1d mixed with the proper proportion ot' granulated iarbon or coa-l and placed in a suitable reservoir or retort, they can be readily decomposed, and that the volatile properties ofthe zinc can be made subservient, and also that the gases produced by the decomposition ofthe ore will pass up and over with the vapors of zinc without contaminating the metal produced.

I have also found that the metallic iiame of zinc .will condense readily when brought in contact with a receiver heated to a temperature of about 650@ Fahrenheit, and that, by a continuops operation, this receiver, if heated to a temperature of about 7000 Fahrenheit, without allowin the vapors of zine to come in contact with the at mosphere, will be reduced to a melted state and run out through a suitable pipe fitted to the ree-eiver.

I have also found that, when the ores of zinc contain other metals, such as lead, copper, iron, 81e., they can be easily separated in my apparatus lst, by the vapor of zinc passing up through the mass and being condensed in the domes or receivers above; and the continued heat of the I am aware that metallic zinch as been produced direct from the ores by causing the vapors to pass out at the bot-tom ofthe retort and made to condense in water. This product requires to be again melted, and this method is slow, tedious, expensive, and is destructive to the retorts.

To enable others skilled to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it, reference and also for the discharging of spent charge and metals. On this iioor, and below the retorts, at each end of the furnace, I form a. ireplace for heating the furnace and retorts, about the following dimensions: two (2) feet wide by four (4) feet long, the ashes falling in the space left under the iioor before described. About iive (5)feet above this iloor I form arches of brick, or use large i'lat fire-tiles to completely cover in the top oit' the furnace, leavin g openings corresponding to the openings below to receive the retorts. I then conv struct tlues about twelve (12) inches square running across the top of the furnance and close to the openings for retorts. These `lines are used to carry of the products of combustion and to heat the receivers or condensers placed on top of the retorts about to be described. These iiues are filled with suitable dampers and connected with a chimney.

l do not limit myself to the above dimensions of furnace, but the size should be governed by the quantity of ore required to be reduced.

I then construct myretorts of clayor iron; or I line an iron retort with tine iire-clay or any suitable material. rIhe material I iind best suited to my purpose is that known as the Stowbridge clay and is the sa-me as used for melting glass.

The size of my retorts is about as follows, viz., aboutiive (5) feet high and about two (2) feetin diameter, made at one end conical, with an opening about three (3) inches in diameter. These retorts are allowed to dry and become quite hard before using, and are placed in the furnace with the conical end looking through the openings in the iioor. About two (2) inches from top of retorts I place a ring or collar on the retort. This collar is about two (2) feet six ((5) inches in diameter, with an opening' to correspond with the size of retorts, and is made of iron or any other suitable material. These rings or collars are to receive the domes or condensers, and have an opening about four (4) inches in diameter' placed about two (2) inches from the outside edge, to allow the metal lic zinc and impure gases to pass out, and connected to this opening' is an iron pipe or prolong about two (2) inches in diameter, to conduct the melted zinc to the cooling mold. The condensers are made of castiron or clay, or any suitable material, and zn'e about the following dimensions,viz.: the first one is about two (2) feet one (1 )inch in diameter and about four (4) inches deep, covered with a plate having an openin g in the center about four (4) inches in diameter, through which the metallic iiame passes. This first condenser is placed over the top of the retort and rests on the rings or collars. rlhe second cover or condenser is about twenty-nine (29) inches in diameter and about six (o) inches deep, covered with a solid plate, and rests on the collar. I then construct a pipe of iron or any suitable material, about five (5) feet six (6) inches long and about three (3) inches in diam eter. This pipe is perforated with holes about threeeighths (ig) of an inch in diameter, at about equal distances over the entire surface of the pipe, and is placed inside the retort, one end fitting into the opening at bottom of cone in retort, and is closed by means of clay or metallic stopper; the other end reaches up to the opening' of lirst condenser.

Having so i'ar described the construction of my apparatus, I will proceed to describe its operation, which is as follows: I start a brisk fire in my furnace, urged with or without a blast underneath the fire-bars, and when the retorts are heated I remove the condensers from the top of the retorts and fill the retorts about two-thirds (if) full with granulated Zinc ore and coa-l or carbon mixed in about the following proportions, viz., one hundred (100) pounds of zinc ore and about sixty (G0) pounds of coa-l or any carbonaceous material well mixed together. I then place the condenser on the top of' the retorts, and as soon as the ore becomes sniiiciently` heated the vapors of zinc rise into the condensers and are condensed, and then in turn are melted and run out at the pipe before described. )When all the Zinc has been vaporized from the ore I then remove the condensers a-nd withdraw the perforated pipe, and the copper or lead, Snc., contained in the ore runs out at the bottom. of the retort together with the slag'. The pipe and condensers are replaced with the next charge of ore and coal, and the operation is continued.

To more fully illustrate my invention, I herewith attach a drawing.

Figure l-A is the furnace; B, the covers or condensers 5 C, the prolongs or pipes for conducting the melted Zinc, D, space under iioor of furnace for discharging metal and slag 5 E, door of furnace; F, ash-pit door, G, braces; H, the ilues for heating collars or rings and condensers. Fig. 2, section of retort with condensers and prolong lor pipe attached, Fig. 3, collar or ring with prolon g 5 Fig. 4, section and elevation of first condenser; I `ig. 5, section of two retorts, showing the perforated inside pipe and position of retorts in furnace.

YWhat I claim, and desire to obtain Letters Patent for, is-

l. The apparatus above described for the manufacture of spelter or metallic Zinc direct from ores of zinc.

2. The mode of condensing' and heating the vapors of zinc when manufacturing spelter or metallic zinc.

3. The separation of metals by thc process be fore described, when used in the manufacture of metallic Zinc.

' JOHN E. BURROVS.

vWitnesses:

WV. M. GooDiNG, ALFRED Lrs'rnn. 

